The 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins season is nearly at hand. The rainy and hot summer has already been long, but the stockpile of prospects from the NHL Draft and second chance candidates acquired in free agency continued the Penguins transition.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 9 in their home opener to the 2025-26 season. That contest was announced via social media on Wednesday morning. The

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WKBN) – The Pittsburgh Penguins announced their 2025-26 regular season schedule on Wednesday. The Pens will open the 2025-26 campaign on the road against the New York Rangers on Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. The Penguins’ home opener will take place on Thursday, Oct. 9 against the New York Islanders at 7 p.m.

With the schedule released, the 2025-26 NHL season will be a pivotal one for the rebuilding Pittsburgh Penguins. With the organization in transition, there are a number of important dates to track.

Pittsburgh Penguins fans hoping to get a glimpse at Mike Sullivan will not have long to wait. The two-time Cup-winning coach in Pittsburgh will be back in the Steel City coaching the Rangers on Oct. 11.

The season opener for the Penguins and Rangers will get underway at 8 p.m. on October 7 and will be airing on ESPN. The NHL's full schedule will be released on Wednesday afternoon.

The NHL schedule makers wasted no time pitting longtime Penguins coach Mike Sullivan against his former team. Sullivan led the Pens to Stanley Cup Championships in 2016 and 2017, but Pittsburgh hadn't won a playoff series since 2018 and failed to qualify for the post-season the last three years.